Outdoor JapanWhere to ChillIce bars, ice festivals—even ice hotels. There are plenty of “cool” places to “chill” off the slopes in Japan this winter.

ICE BARS
After a working up a sweat shredding powder on the mountain, nothing beats kicking back with a cold one. To truly “chill,” head to one of Japan’s ice bars serving up some (very) cold drinks.

Shikaribetsu Lake’s Kotan Ice Bar
This ice bar is naturally kept cool thanks to Hokkaido’s frigid temperatures which can reach -30° C. “Kotan” is Ainu for “village” and refers to the winter igloo village built upon frozen Shikaribetsu Lake, 800 meters above sea level in Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan National Park.

Enjoy an ice cold drink in your very own ice glass, or warm up with a hot cappuccino. The experience doesn’t end at the bar; the village boasts several great ice experiences including an ice hall, ice movie theater, ice factory (make your own ice glasses), rotenburo (outside hot spring), ice lodge and even an ice chapel.

Ice Experience Ice Bar
A spectacular display of frozen architecture, Niseko’s Ice Experience Ice Bar is constructed from 300 tons of “snice” (a blend of snow and ice) and 1,000 tons of ice by an international team of professional ice builders and artists.

The drinks are served in glasses made from Kyogoku ice from the famous nearby Kyogoku Spring; one of Japan’s highest-level natural mineral waters.

Tomamu Ice Village
Temperatures dropping to -20° C degrees, combined with eloquent design, contribute to this illuminated paradise found at Tomamu Alpha Resort’s ice village. The village’s ice bar is nothing but ice.

Tables, chairs, counter and walls are all made from frozen water. Before popping into the bar, try your hand at making your own ice glass in the ice studio. For the ultimate experience, check out the resort’s ice hotel.

Absolut Icebar Tokyo
Making a guest appearance on the Amazing Race Asia Season 2, the Absolut Icebar in Tokyo’s Roppongi district is Japan’s only ice bar that does not melt after winter is over. Made out of ice imported from the Torne River in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, the bar is kept at a chilly -5° C all year round, keeping your glass, the walls, bar, tables and even the artwork frozen solid. Guests are given a cape to keep warm and can stay up to 45 minutes.

ICE HOTELS
The thought of sleeping on a bed of ice in the middle of winter may seem a bit odd but, if you’ve seen images of the amazing ice hotels in Scandinavia, you too will want to slide in for an ice nap.

Lake Kotan Ice Hotel
Lake Kotan’s ice lodge, part of the Shikaribetsu Lake Ice Village, gives you the chance to live like the Eskimos. Four guests can comfortably share one room (the more warm bodies the better) and sleeping bags can be rented to keep you cosy.

Guests can also jump in the village’s rotenburo if they need to heat up. The rooms do not have toilet facilities, so you will want to make sure you don’t drink too much at the ice bar before you sleep.

Tomamu Ice Hotel
Tomamu Alpha Resort’s romantic ice hotel is a must-try experience if you are at the resort in winter. Stunning furniture carved from ice creates a surreal experience for those brave enough to stay overnight

Guests at the hotel must make reservations three days in advance. Although brides may have to re-think their wedding dress, winter sports lovers who are a little daring can exchange vows in the village’s ice chapel.

WINTER FESTIVALS
Where there is a season in Japan, there are festivals all over the country to compliment, with winter being no exception. In the snow areas, amazing spectacles of snow and ice sculptures lit up by laser beams, colorful lighting displays, candles burning inside snow domes, live entertainment, great food and beer and, of course, fireworks, are all symbols of Japan’s winter festivities.

If you are planning a winter sports getaway this season and want to visit one of the festivals during your stay, be sure to book your accommodation early, as they will be sure to fill up fast.

On the first weekend of March each year Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort is the main venue for the Yuzawa Snow Festival featuring a fantastic fireworks display and other fun events such as snow sculptures and a mikoshi (portable shrine) parade through town.